When she regained consciousness, a sharp, excruciating pain surged through her chest, as though death itself were clawing at her. The agony from the blades that had carved into her—used to extract her core—along with the tight stitches holding her together, was unbearable. Each breath she tried to take felt like her lungs were collapsing under the weight. It was too much.
She was alone. The room was dark and cold, and there was no one—no voice, no warmth—to comfort her in this moment of torment.
Tears streamed down her face without warning, her body shaking as she sobbed uncontrollably.
“I brought this upon myself,” she cried, voice trembling. “I just want to die.”
The disbelief still clung to her like a nightmare. Mark. Mark had done this to her. Never in a million years would she hav
